Improvement in machines for swaging and trimming the points of horseshoe-nails



- B. ROSS. Machines for Swag i ng and Trim min 9 the Points of HorseshoeNails.

Patented May 27,1873.

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UNITED STATES ROBERT ROSS, OF VERGENNES, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONALHORSE- PATENT OFFICE.

NAIL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SWAGING AND TRlMMlNG THE POINTS OFHORSESHOE-NAILS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,332, dated May 27,1873; application filed July 27, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT Ross, of Vergennes, in the county of Addisonand State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Machine forBeveling and Trimming the Points of Horseshoe-Nails, of which thefollowing is a specification:

My invention consists of a die on the side of a vertical wall, and ahorizontal reciprocating die working toward and from it below ascrew-feeder, and a bar parallel with it, by which the nails a'refedalong, points downward, to these dies to be beveled to the requiredshape flatwise at the points, the movable die being so timed as to comeagainst the points as they pass in front of it. The feed-screw and barare adjustable vertically to regulate the length of the bevel for thepoints. The invention also consists of a weighted lever combined withsaid feed devices and beveling-dies to retain the nails between the dieswhile being acted upon. The invention also consists of a verticalstationary die, and a movable punch, and a pair of holding-dies incombination with the said feeding devices, for trimming the edges ornarrow sides of the nails for about half their length from the point,more or less, the nails being presented to the said trimming-dies bydropping, point foremost, from the feed devicesin front of thestationary trimming-die and being caught at the head by theholding-dies, so that the point to be trimmed is suspended in front ofthe stationary trimming-die and held till the movable trimming-die comesup and forces it through the other one and out of the holding-dies. Oneof the said holdingdies has a slight movement to open and let the nailsdrop in freely, and then close on them to hold them snugly till themovable trimmingdie acts. The invention also consists of an arrangementof the stationary beveling and trimming dies on a supporting-block,which is pivoted to the frame at one end, and confined by a locking-pinat the other end in such manner that by removing the lockingpin theblock can be readily swung over on its pivot to afford ready access tosaid dies for repairing them; and the invention also consists of anarrangement of the crankshaft which works the movable die-stock by acrank or wrist pin, so that it can slide away from the stock readily toallow of withdrawing the stock to grind the dies without taking themoff, and a combination of a latch and collar with the shaft for holdingit in connection with the stock.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved beveling and trimming machine.Fig. 2 is a trans verse sectional elevation taken on the line was ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line y 3 Fig. 4c is afront elevation of the holding-dies, the stationary trimming-die, andthe supporting block therefor, which is pivoted to the machine, asaforesaid.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

A represents the feed-screw, and B the bar parallel with it, betweenwhich the nails, being suspended in the grooves points downward, are fedto the dies, coming first in front of the fixed beveling-die O, whichprojects from the vertical wall D in the requisite form tobevel thepoints of the nails properly when the movable beveling-die or punch Ecomes against them while they are suspended in front of said die 0. Thisoperation is performed very quickly and without the stopping of thenails to wait for the action of the dies. The die 0 is much longer thanthe width of the nails, to insure the supporting of the nails properlyat the rear side when the punch comes against them, and to compensatefor any little inaccuracy in the feed that may be, but it is intended tohave the feed-screw adjustable endwise to regulate the presenting of thenails to the dies. Both the feed-screw and the bar B are adjustablevertically by the screws F, to regulate the beveling of the points as tothe length. A weighted lever, G, with a die to rest on the heads of thenails, is arranged in such relation with the feed-screw, the bar 13, andthedies O E that the nails will come under the lever and be subject tothe weight of it at the time the beveling-dies are acting to prevent thenails from escaping upward from the dies while being acted upon by them,which the form of the dies tends to cause them to do. After the nailshave been beveled they pass along to a point above and in front of thestationary point-trimming die H, and drop down through an enlargementofthe groove of the feed-screw, between the horizontal holding-dies I K,where they are held till the movable trimming-die or punch L comes up,and forces them through die H and out of the holding-dies, therebytrimming off the narrow sides or edges of the nails. A plate or shield,M, prevents the nails from falling out of the (lies at the front. Theholding-die I is stationary, but the one K has a slight forward andbackward movement to open sufliciently to let the nals drop in freelyand then close and hold them snugly until the trimming-die L acts. Thismovement is caused by a bent bar, N, entering a hole in the die betweentwo friction-rollers and withdrawing again, the said bar being mountedon the stock P, which carries the dies E and L. This stock works betweenadjustable gibs Q, which are provided for readily shifting it laterallyto adjust the dies, and it is worked by a crank-pin, R, of thedriving-shaft S, said pin working in a slot, T. The said shaft isarranged in its bearings U, so that it can slide endwise away from thestock E to disconnect the crank-pin from it to allow said stock to bewithdrawn from the gibs for grinding the dies. A collar, V, and apivoted catch, IV, are provided with said shaft to hold it in connectionwith the stock by the dropping of the latch between one of the bearin gsand said collar. X is the block to which the dies H I K are connected,and which is pivoted to the frame by a bolt,

Y, and held by another, Z, so that by removing the latter the block canbe turned down on its pivot to present the dies in a convenient placefor inspection and removal.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of the feed-screw A, bar B, and thepoint-beveling dies 0 E, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the above of the weighted lever Gr,substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with said feed-screw and bar, of the holding-dies IK, and pointfinishing dies H L, substantially as specified.

4. The arrangement of the dies H I K on a supporting-block pivoted tothe machine, substantially as specified.

5. The driving-shaft S, arranged in its bearings and with the stock P todisconnect from the latter by sliding therefrom, as described, and thecombination with said shaft and one of its bearings of the latch W andcollar V, substantially as specified.

6. The feed-screw A and bar B, arranged to be adjusted relatively to thepointbeveling dies, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of the guard M with the holding and point-finishingdies, substantially as specified.

KOBERT ROSS.

Witnesses:

D. H. LEWIS, J. G. HINDES.

